Who filed to run for office in Manchester on the first day?

By TED SIEFERNew Hampshire Union LeaderJuly 08. 2013 9:28PMMANCHESTER — Mayor Ted Gatsas made it official on Monday, joining several incumbents and newcomers in submitting his candidate papers on the first day of the two-week filing period for the 2013 municipal election.

Several other incumbent school board members and aldermen filed on Monday.

On the school board, the filers were: Dave Wihby for the at-large seat; Sarah Ambrogi for Ward 1; Chris Stewart for Ward 3; Ted Rokas for Ward 5; Erika Connors Ward 8; Art Beaudry for Ward 9; and John Avard for Ward 10.

Among the aldermen, five candidates filed on Monday: Joyce Craig for Ward 1; Pat Long for Ward 3; William Shea for Ward 7; Tom Katsiantonis for Ward 8; and Normand Gamache for Ward 11.

Incumbent Joe Kelly Levasseur also filed his papers for one of the two aldermen-at-large seats. Two other candidates also filed for the race: Will Infantine, a state representative and former alderman, and S. Daniel Mattingly.

Among the other new filers for 2013 is Keith Hirschmann, a former alderman who will be seeking the Ward 12 alderman seat. The current office holder, Patrick Arnold, is running for mayor.

Robyn Dunphy filed for the Ward 6 school board seat.

Bill Barry, who was a candidate for Hillsborough County sheriff last year, will be running for the Ward 10 aldermanic seat. The incumbent, Phil Greazzo, said he will decide whether to seek reelection by the end of the filing period, July 19.

Diane Guimond will again make a run for welfare commissioner.

The former department official filed her papers Monday, setting up a rematch from 2011 with Commissioner Paul Martineau, who said Monday that he intends to seek the office for a seventh time.

Martineau's office has faced increased scrutiny this past year, including criticism over his $113,000 salary and a state Supreme Court ruling that forced the agency to revise its rules for denying assistance.

"I'll run on my record and let the voters decide," Martineau said. "My staff has done an outstanding job. They're there helping people and they're looking out for the taxpayer."

In filing his papers to seek a third term Monday, Gatsas was joined by Ray Wieczorek, the former mayor and executive councilor who is serving as the campaign's co-chairman.

"Over the course of the past three and a half years we have realized many accomplishments," Gatsas said in a statement. "We worked to make the Manchester School of Technology a full-time technical high school; we increased our compliment of police officers to keep our city safe; we continue to improve city infrastructure ... and in a down economy we continue to realize successful economic development projects in the South Elm and Millyard area."

Arnold, the mayor's rival for the seat, said, "It's not surprising that Mayor Gatsas continues to say everything is perfectly fine in Manchester. I share the view of many in Manchester that we face significant challenges. As the largest city in the state, we're supposed to be leading in education, job growth and places to raise a family... I think we can do better."

The filing period for candidates will end Friday, July 19, at 5 p.m. The candidate forms are available at the Office of the City Clerk. tsiefer@unionleader.com